Maximilian Uhler

Master Student

Wear investigation based on an innovative, anatomic shoulder prothesis with bearing materials inversion

Betreuer: Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

 Wear debris has been observed in shoulder arthroplasties that use an ultrahigh-molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) glenoid component, and the biologic response to this debris contributes to aseptic loosening of the implant. The objective of this project is to compare the wear and particle morphology of an established shoulder prothesis consisting of an UHMWPE glenoid and a TiNbN-coated CoCr humeral head with an innovative shoulder prothesis consisting of a TiNbN-coated Ti6Al4V glenoid and a UHMWPE humeral head. For assessing wear a simulator with kinematic considerations will be used in a shoulder model. This model has been published in a previous study [1] and extensively validated in further wear investigations [2]. The project is carried out in cooperation with the the Laboratory of Biomechanics and Implant Research, Clinic for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital under local supervision by Prof. Dr. sc. hum. Jan Philippe Kretzer.

[1] Mueller U, Braun S, Schroeder S, Schroeder M, Sonntag S, Jaeger S, et al.Influence of humeral head material on wear performance in anatomic shoulder joint arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2017;26:1756-64.

[2] Braun S, Schroeder S, Mueller U, Sonntag R, Buelhoff M, Kretzer JP, Influence of joint kinematics on polyethylene wear in anatomic shoulder joint arthroplasty. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2018;1058-2746